Have you ever peered into that overflowing waste bin after an in-flight meal? Plastic wrappers, foil containers, single-use cutlery—it‘s not pretty. The sheer volume of waste generated by the airline industry's food service is a significant environmental concern.
Millions of flights take to the skies each year, each serving meals often wrapped in layers of disposable materials. Most airline trash winds up in landfills, and our oceans choke on the plastic that escapes proper disposal. It's a problem soaring to unsustainable heights.
But there's a breath of fresh air on the horizon—a shift towards a more responsible way of serving passengers in the air. The answer lies in embracing sustainability, starting right on our tray tables.
At Pick On Us, we’ve dedicated ourselves to providing chefs worldwide with eco-friendly disposables that reduce the impact of waste—not just in the airline industry, but in all food service industries—and showing how sustainable and biodegradable products can help the service industry reduce its footprint on the planet.
Let’s find out how we can serve up some solutions!
The Environmental Toll of Airline Waste
We can't just gloss over the scale of the problem. Imagine the sheer volume of plastic cups, lids, stirrers, and food containers discarded after each flight, multiplied by hundreds of thousands of daily flights—27,000 commercial flights, shuttling 2.7 million passengers in the United States alone! But this isn't just about overflowing bins; it's about the lifecycle of these materials.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) recognizes that cabin waste volumes could increase significantly in the coming years. As mentioned earlier, most of this waste ends up in landfills, taking hundreds of years to decompose and leaching harmful chemicals into the soil and groundwater.
A significant portion finds its way into our oceans, where it breaks down into microplastics, is ingested by marine life, and ultimately enters our food chain. The production of these single-use plastics also has a significant carbon footprint, relying on fossil fuels and contributing to greenhouse gas emissions.
Consider the resources involved: the extraction of raw materials, the energy-intensive manufacturing processes, and the transportation of these items globally, only for them to be used for a few hours and discarded. It's a linear, unsustainable model that cannot continue in a world grappling with climate change and resource depletion.
The solution for such a complex issue is surprisingly down-to-earth: Plant-based, biodegradable containers and utensils.
The Versatility and Innovation of Sustainable Materials
Sustainable, biodegradable food containers have been around for a long time, with Central American and South Asian cooking using banana leaves as plates.
Bamboo is one of the primary materials used in Pick On Us’ wide range of products, and that’s just the start. The landscape of sustainable alternatives is constantly evolving and brimming with innovation. Beyond bamboo and banana leaves, there are also other possibilities:
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Bagasse: This is the fibrous residue left after sugarcane stalks are crushed to extract juice. It's a readily available byproduct that can be molded into sturdy and compostable plates, bowls, and containers.
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Palm Leaf: Similar to banana leaves, naturally shed palm leaves can be cleaned, pressed, and shaped into elegant and biodegradable tableware, offering a unique and earthy aesthetic.
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Wheat Straw: Like bagasse, wheat straw is an agricultural byproduct that can be transformed into disposable cutlery, containers, and one of many materials used for plastic drinking straw alternatives. Wheat straw, made from the cellulose found in the stalks of wheat plants after the grain harvest, can be used to make biodegradable plastics. The bonus? The plastics are microwaveable and freezer safe!
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Mushroom Packaging: Packaging grown from mycelium (the root structure of fungi) is taking off. It's completely biodegradable and compostable, offering a genuinely circular solution. Closer to Earth, companies like IKEA and Dell have started using mushroom packaging for their products. So, if you’re not a fan of putting IKEA’s furniture together, their eco-conscious initiative will hopefully redeem their name.
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Edible Packaging: This is where things get interesting! Companies are developing edible films and coatings for food items, eliminating the need for packaging. Think seaweed-based pouches for sauces or edible cups for drinks.
But wait—what about recyclable plastics, mono-material polyethylene terephthalate (PET)? Sure, mono-material PET tableware is easier to recycle due to its use of a single type of plastic, but you’ll still need to gather it up and ship it off to a specialized facility to have it recycled. And if this trash accidentally winds up in the landfill or ocean, it’ll still be trash out in the wild, whether or not it’s recyclable. Compounding the issue is the fact that plastic trash no longer has a place to go. For years, the United States and other Western countries had been sending millions of tons of plastic waste to China, the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam, until these countries stopped the practice and started sending the trash back to where it came from. So, plant-based, biodegradable tableware is still the most practical choice, as it’ll decompose and return to the environment, whether in the compost pile, landfill, or ocean.
The beauty of these materials lies not only in their reduced environmental impact but also in their potential to offer unique textures, aesthetics, and functionalities that can enhance the dining experience.
Real Solutions for Reducing Single-Use Plastic
The challenges of reducing single-use plastics in airline catering are real but not insurmountable. Here's a more detailed look at potential solutions that go beyond using biodegradable products:
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Reusable Systems: For certain items like trays, carafes, and even some containers, implementing robust cleaning and sterilization processes can allow for reusable systems, which require investment in infrastructure and logistics but can significantly reduce long-term waste. While it’s essentially a return to the basics by washing dishes, it’s a drastic departure from current practices and a straightforward solution to reducing waste.
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Concentrated Dispensers: Instead of individual single-use packets for condiments, how about using larger, refillable dispensers? This reduces packaging waste and can also offer cost savings.
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Rethinking Meal Components: Can specific meal components be served without excessive packaging? For example, offering bread rolls in a shared basket with tongs instead of individually wrapped portions.
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Advanced Recycling Programs: Implementing comprehensive recycling programs on board and at airport hubs is crucial. This requires clear communication with passengers and efficient sorting processes.
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Partnerships and Innovation: Collaborating with catering companies and material science innovators is key to discovering and implementing cutting-edge sustainable solutions.
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Policy and Regulation: While airlines can take the initiative, supportive policies and regulations from aviation authorities can help to level the playing field and accelerate the adoption of sustainable practices across the industry.
The key is to adopt a holistic approach, looking at every aspect of the food service process and identifying opportunities for reducing, reusing, and disposing responsibly.
The Tangible Benefits of Sustainable Tableware
Switching to sustainable tableware isn't just a feel-good initiative; it has tangible benefits that contribute to an airline's overall sustainability goals:
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Reduced Landfill Waste: This is the most obvious benefit, directly reducing the airline's contribution to the landfill burden.
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Lower Carbon Footprint: Sustainable materials often have a lower carbon footprint associated with their production and disposal than traditional plastics.
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Enhanced Brand Reputation: Demonstrating a commitment to sustainability can significantly enhance the airline's image and attract environmentally conscious travelers.
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Potential Cost Savings: While the initial investment in sustainable alternatives might be higher in some cases, long-term savings can be realized through reduced waste disposal fees and potentially lighter materials, leading to fuel efficiency.
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Alignment with Sustainability Goals: For airlines with ambitious environmental targets, adopting sustainable tableware is a concrete step towards achieving those goals and demonstrating tangible progress.
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Improved Passenger Experience: As discussed, sustainable options can often offer a more pleasant and premium feel, enhancing the overall passenger experience and creating a positive association with the airline.
Weaving Sustainability into the Brand DNA: More Than Just a Logo
Sustainability is great for the environment, but it doesn't stop there—as customers prioritize earth-friendly brands, having a sustainable brand identity is also good for business. Airlines can weave sustainability into their brand narrative through thoughtful design and messaging.
Southwest Airlines is a case study in sustainability. By transitioning to cups made primarily of pulp materials, using paper overwraps instead of plastic for paper napkins, reducing packaging for snacks, and pivoting from plastic stir sticks to FSC-certified wooden stirring sticks, Southwest put itself on its roadmap to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, through eliminating single-use cabin waste, embracing sustainable fuels and reducing emissions.
Its cabin waste reduction program is a significant component of Southwest’s goal.
At Pick On Us, we’re all about custom branding, but the potential goes far beyond slapping a logo on bamboo cutlery to attract eco-minded customers. Collaborations with eco-conscious designers can lead to tableware that is not only sustainable but also aesthetically pleasing and reflects the airline's brand identity. Think about color palettes inspired by nature, subtle textures that evoke natural materials, and functional and beautiful designs.
This isn't just about being "green"; it's about demonstrating a genuine commitment to responsible practices, which can resonate deeply with environmentally conscious travelers and build brand loyalty.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the move towards sustainable food service in the airline industry is not just an environmental imperative; it's an opportunity for innovation, brand differentiation, and long-term value creation. By embracing eco-friendly tableware, cutlery, and packaging, airlines and the food service industry can take significant strides towards a greener future, one meal at a time.
The sky's the limit when it comes to creative and impactful solutions.
At Pick On Us, we’ve proudly supported the culinary and hospitality industries with the best customized sustainable tableware. Our mission converges with our commitment to advancing sustainable practices and promoting eco-friendly products for in-flight operations and the hospitality industry, including restaurants, hotels, catering services, casinos, and resorts.
Contact us to learn how we can help you reach your sustainability goals!